Observations from Relay Peak

Location Name: 
Relay Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 03/20/2015 - 11:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 43.344" N, 119° 56' 39.228" W
See map: Google Maps
US



Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

A strong snow surface refreeze occurred in this area last night. Increasing cloud cover during the morning hours greatly slowed the rate of snow surface melt. Travel on E-SE-S-SW aspects between 8,500' and 10,100' between 10 am and 1 pm revealed no more than 4 cm (2 inches) of wet surface snow on top of ski and boot supportable melt-freeze crust. No evidence of wet snow instability was observed prior to departure from the area at 1 pm. Snowpit data collected on an E aspect at 10,050' indicated that only the top 18 cm (7 inches) of the snowpack had been affected by melt-freeze at that elevation. Below the top 18 cm (7 inches) a well bonded, rounded snowpack with a temperature profile approaching isothermal was observed in the snowpit.

Photo: Looking SSW from Relay Peak at thick mid to high level cloud cover that had built over the forecast area by 11:15 am.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest